Dad dies from legacy of hanging tragedy

A FATHER-of-one who suffered severe brain damage after attempting to hang himself in his son’s bedroom died following a series of seizures.

Crag Mullins was left severely brain damaged, blind and immobile after the suspected suicide bid following a drunken row with girlfriend with his girlfriend in August 2011.

Bolton Coroner’s Court heard how he was rushed into intensive care and his life was saved, but his quality of life from then on was described as “very poor”.

Mr Mullins’ mother, Sharon Burgess, told how he was later transferred to Stocks Hall Care Home in Dentons Green - where he received “excellent” 24-hour care.

But, on January 22 of this year, he suffered a series of seizures in which his body went completely rigid and he would momentarily stop breathing.

He died the next day, aged just 23.

Dr Andrew Ashton, a consultant in emergency medicine at Whiston Hospital, told how Mr Mullins had been carefully watched during the night and had been treated on one occasion by the hospital’s medical emergency team.

Family members told how they had been upset by an apparent miscommunication over whether Mr Mullins, formerly of Laithwaite Road, Wigan, would be watched at all times.

Deputy coroner Alan Walsh called for doctors and nurses to be clearer when communicating with distressed families before recording a narrative verdict. It read: “Craig Mullins died as a consequence of injuries sustained when he self-suspended himself by ligature but the evidence is unclear as to his intentions at that time.”